We love these two picks for children for Christmas. One is the JJ from CocoMelon toy which will definitely be a huge hit. It’s from Jazwares UK and the Skillmatics Fantastic Sand Art which gives hours of mess-free, creative, fun. It all stays in the box.
CoComelon Musical Toy JJ Bedtime Doll
Bring CoComelon nursery rhymes to life with the J.J Bedtime Plush doll! This cuddly toy is inspired by J.J., the much-loved character from the hit CoComelon YouTube series. Dressed in his iconic onesie and holding his favourite teddy bear pillow, J.J is the perfect bedtime companion.
BEDTIME FRIEND: Soft plush J.J doll in his iconic onesie with teddy bear pillow
SING-ALONG FUN: Plays the “Yes Yes Bedtime” song
SOUNDS & PHRASES: Includes 7 bedtime sounds and phrases
COCOMELON MAGIC: Inspired by the popular educational YouTube series
AGES:18m+
RRP Price (£) 13.49
Skillomatic Fantastic Sand Art
Sand-tastic Art Animals (ages 4+)
Description
Watch the stickers come to life as you fill them in with colorful sand! Add monkeys, elephants, seahorses, and more to your works of art! The special tray and magical rainbow pen make your sandy adventures easy and mess-free!
Popsapersonalised photo books are perfect for Christmas. These luxe, high-end books have lots of personalisation options, and AI puts them together for you with minimal effort. Just download the app and upload your pictures. The rest is done for you.
Using their photo curation app yet, it helps you create premium photo books, calendars, and more keepsakes in minutes from your smartphone.
Powered by AI, it makes the process highly accessible and intuitive – think automatic layouts, designs, captions and 3D previewsthat take your photos from camera roll to coffee table in just a few taps. Popsa aims for photo book design to be seamless for less tech-savvy customers, without compromising on quality.
The result is a premium, coffee-table-worthy photo book that feels special and is made to last – and ideal gift for loved ones.
The app was founded by Liam Houghton, who set out to make preserving memories effortless after seeing how much time his own family spent struggling with complicated design tools.
To date, they have 10 million app users across 50 countries. They are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot from over 105,000 reviews, and have a 4.8 star App Store rating.
We already have our book and a lovely Christmas ornament. Now get yours.
We love new home fragrance brand – Ouverture London – with scents inspired by the flavours, moments and landscapes of the world’s great wine regions. They are gorgeous candles which smell great. Perfect for a bit of luxury.
The first collection is the Terroir Collection, with bespoke scents made in a process which can take up to a year. They are also sustainable. The wax is ProTerra certified soy, the holders are refillable, and the packaging made from FSC paper and vegetable ink dyed.
Elle Sera’s new Liposomal Tripeptide Collagen
The perfect gift for beauty addicts. Rather than relying on generic hydrolysed collagen, Elle Sera uses defined tripeptides, ultra-small collagen fragments the body recognises, paired with a liposomal delivery system. Liposomes are microscopic, fat-like spheres that encapsulate and shield ingredients through digestion, then merge with cell membranes so more of the formula is absorbed. The goal is simple: protect the tripeptides, deliver them efficiently and increase the chance they enter the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, these receptor-ready tripeptides are designed to signal fibroblasts, the skin’s collagen factories, to upregulate collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. The formula also includes vitamins A, C, E, biotin, zinc and lycopene to support structure and defence, moving the conversation from “more collagen” to “smarter collagen”.
The product has been formulated with Professor Mohammad Najlah, a globally recognised expert in pharmaceutical formulation who specialises in nanotechnology, liposomal drug delivery and cell-targeted absorption systems and has focused on liposome stability in the gut and efficient delivery of the tripeptides.
NEOM.
We love NEOM and own a few of their candles. NEOM Wellbeing’s Christmas gifting collection for 2025, brought to life under the playful theme ‘Dance To Your Wellbeing Tune’, celebrating the idea that wellbeing is unique, personal, and different for everyone.
Expertly blended to fill your home with 100% natural fragrance as the winter nights darken and the festive season approaches, the collection is designed to really get them (or you) in the spirit.
Available NOW from all NEOM Wellbeing retailers, including Boots, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Liberty London and Lookfantastic
Benefit Glam-A-Grams 5-Piece Makeup Gift Set.
This is the perfect gifting set for beauty addicts. With a hit list of the best products from Benefit. Full-Size Brow Wax, Volumizing Mascara, And Tint Plus Mini Primer And Fun-Size Cleansing Oil. Perfect for looking your best this Christmas. Available here.
A collection of five genderless Eaux de Parfums inspired by the untamed energy of rock and roll, this Discovery Set will delight rebellious souls and fragrance lovers alike.
Each scent is a new track in a sensory album, designed for those who live loud, move free and wear their attitude on their skin.
It includes Subversive Scents’ full collection of EDPs, crafted in London and made in France:
Wild Horses: Radiant and Romantic
Sticky Fingers: Earthy and Addictive
Satisfaction: Woody and seductive
Urban Jungle: Woody and Electric
Paint It Black: Earthy and Enigmatic
Discovery Set from Subversive Scents by The Rolling Stones £35.00 (5 X 5ml) available on Subversivescents.co.uk
We love Wild & Stone, an eco-friendly small business.
For beauty and bath lovers, the Natural Fibre Dry Body Brush (RRP £12.95) is a natural accessory for dry-brushing, helping to create softer skin and encourage skin cell renewal. It’s made from FSC certified beechwood. A great gift.
Gorgeous nails make a huge difference to our mood, and what better gift for Christmas? We love mirror nails, and this gorgeous nail kit.
Mirror nails have cemented their place as the standout nail trend of 2025, and Mylee is taking things up a level with the launch of two striking new Pressed Pigment Palettes, www.mylee.co.uk.
Designed to deliver a high-shine, mirror-like finish with effortless application, this latest innovation makes achieving pro-level chrome nails at home easier, and cleaner, than ever.
Simply buff your chosen shade over Mylee’s No Wipe Top Coat, and watch your nails transform into a high-gloss, light-catching mirror chrome that lasts.
Available in two chic chrome colourways – the Camden and Chelseapalettes – each curated quad brings a versatile mix of chrome tones to suit every mood, season and skin tone.
Ideal for on-the-go touch-ups, travel, or at-home salon sessions, the palettes are as cute as they are practical. The formula is non-toxic and fade-resistant, making them a smart choice for trendsetters who don’t want to compromise on performance or safety.
The 3-Step Secret to Healthier, Happier Nail
Nail wellness just got a major glow-up – and who better to lead the charge than Mylee. Introducing the Treat Your Tips Care Kit– Mylee’s first-ever 3-step nail care routine that makes healthy, natural nails simple, satisfying, and seriously effective. Think of it as a mini mani makeover: salon-inspired, self-care approved and designed to keep your nails looking flawless between manis (and beyond).
Inside the beautifully boxed kit, you’ll find three nail care icons: A Crystal Nail File to shape and seal with precision A 3-Way Buffer to smooth, shine, and instantly boost glow A Raspberry Ripple Nail & Cuticle Oil, a sweet-scented hydration hero packed with almond, jojoba, and coconut oils
No polish needed, no complicated steps – just naturally gorgeous nails that look as good as they feel. Whether you’re in between gel sets or indulging in a self-care moment, this kit gives your nails the TLC they deserve. Available now at mylee.co.uk, Amazon, and selected UK retailers.
With Christmas just around the corner, these Glow For It must-haves are perfect for Christmas The growth kit is perfect for the lash obsessed and the blush stick is a budget-friendly stocking filler.
The Growth Starter Kit A best-selling set featuring the viral Lash Growth Serum and Brow Growth Serum — ideal for beauty lovers looking for real results and fuller lashes this party season. Available at glowforitshop.com
Blush Sticks A budget-friendly stocking filler infused with skin-loving ingredients for a radiant, healthy glow. Creamy, blendable and universally flattering — a festive must-have.
For her — SoleCup Original, 18oz Ice Cream Silicone A joyful pastel band (lilac/mint/lemon) with the premium glass build and comfortable grip. Dishwasher safe and made for coffee, tea or hot chocolate – ideal for cosy commutes and weekend strolls. It is a modern, design-led gift that people will use daily (and actually enjoy using).
It is dishwasher and microwave safe and has an additional tea infuser and smoothie filter that is easy to attache and clean. Sustainable and eco-friendly, it is made with reinforced glass. This is the perfect cup. We are obsessed with it. Love it.
In Safe Hands is a psychological thriller set in London and Singapore, about a once successful but now penniless woman who seeks help from her elderly, wealthy father but finds that her role has been replaced by an attractive and efficient caregiver.
Where does your inspiration come from?
For me, inspiration comes from reading, theatre, sightseeing and walking, travel, TV and movies. I very rarely take inspiration from real people as I want to create settings and characters that are larger than life. Fiction is about stretching the boundaries of our imagination. For In Safe Hands, I was inspired by the class struggle and status consciousness in both Singapore and London, two parallel cities absorbed with economic and commercial growth which made me want to write about the have and have-not characters.
What does it feel like to be published by Penguin Random House?
Like most authors, I grew up on Penguin classics. I used to admire the plain orange spines, and wonder how I would ever write a book that appears on the shelf with the Penguin logo. When I received an offer 9 months after submission for The American Boyfriend, I thought it had to be a scam. I didn’t even reply for a week. After investigating the email, I was grateful that I was going to be not just an author, but a Penguin author.
Can you describe the moment you signed your book deal?
The moment I signed my book deal, I felt excited and light-headed, Prosecco-filled and buzzing. This was swiftly followed by a heavy responsibility, and also that I was an amateur and not good enough. Although in theory every author feels a debilitating sense of anxiety and inferiority, I felt the pressure of no longer someone who was just messing about, experimenting with writing, with sporadic success. Now I was a “real” writer and there were consequences, which were a sense of professional duty to perform, the urge to gain readers from all over the world, while developing my author brand, and finally the responsibility in delivering a top quality product to the world.
Tell us about your writing journey.
My writing journey actually began quite early, even though I only published my debut novel in my late 40s. I was writing short stories throughout my childhood for fun. Some received national commendation. I had always been interested in competitions, in case I won something. A real breakthrough came when one of my short stories was broadcast on the BBC World Service. I was actually even paid for it. It was the first time I had been paid for my writing. Gradually I entered more competitions and eventually won two big first prize competitions.
Encouraged by my initial success, I signed up for an MA in Writing. I began writing my first novel then, which won a literary prize in Hong Kong. After I started writing novels, I was less interested in writing short stories, which I saw as something you do in between novels, like a side dish or a snack. I really enjoy investing time and energy into novel writing, which I feel is all-consuming and more like a satisfying, seriously rich meal.
In Safe Hands is your sixth book. Does it get easier?
Yes and no. They’re like children. The problems change and get bigger. Before, they just come out, exist and you make sure they don’t die. Then, when you have more books, you have to look after the whole family, your brand identity, your own development, the commercialisation of your writing, your publishing strategy and plan. There is no more hodgepodge or random scribblings, unless they are just for fun. The marketing and promo is the least fun bit of being an author, yet a significantly and disproportionately large part of publishing today, to the detriment of the fun bit: just writing. Everytime I make a reel, I know I’m not writing.
Which book is your favourite?
In Safe Hands is my favourite book. I say this not just because it is my latest book. I have made meteoric improvements since my debut 8 years ago. I exceed my own expectations with each book. I wrote better and better books. With each book, I tackle a little weakness or strength learned from previous books. Had I given up, which of course, I have considered doing many times, I would never have realised my potential to grow as a creative thinker and writer.
What is your writing routine?
I don’t have a writing routine. Being a full-time architect and mum of two, I just write whenever I can. If I have one hour while waiting for my daughter at ballet, then I’ll write for one hour. If I have 15 minutes in between appointments, then I will write for 15 minutes. I don’t schedule any of it or get stressed if the words don’t come, because I feel that eventually when you get those minutes or an hour, the words will come. If it’s a story, then the story will be told sooner or later.
Are you a plotter or a panster?
I’m definitely a plotter, as I had made the mistake of spending 12 years writing my first novel due to not having any plot. I would just make things up as I felt like, until I got to the end. This only cost me many more years of rewrites. Now I can fill an A3 page with a diagram of my plot, and a google sheet with my chapter plan. It gives me a sense of peace just staring at these diagrams or Google sheets. I don’t mind if I have to spend a bit more time on the plotting. I see them as just as valid as plans for a building, or instructions to construct an object.
What writers and books do you love?
I enjoy character-driven plots. I read Liz Nugent, Elle Marr, Tony Parsons, Emily Barr, Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and Andrea Mara. I also enjoy literary fiction. Books which have influenced me include Penguin Classics. For contemporary book club fiction, I enjoy JM Coetzee, John Lanchester and Rebecca Kuang. An automatic read for me would be David Szalay. I have already ordered his Booker winner, Flesh. I love anything he’s written.
From Erysimum To Eucalyptus; Heal The Plant-Based Way
The way to get through autumn and winter is with Puressentiel and their fantastic range of products. With Autumn many, many of us will be looking for ways to recover fast and support our immune system, so we can get on with everyday life and bust coughs and colds fast.
According to research by Puressentiel – uk.puressentiel.com – the brains behind the evidence backed plant-based health products for everyday wellness needs – 36% of Brits have had a cough in the last month and 35% have had a cold in the last month with a third of these respondents claiming that their symptoms were worse and took longer to go away than in the past two or three years.[1]
GP, Dr Nisa Aslam from Puressentiel – uk.puressentiel.com – explains: “From respiratory issues, runny nose, headaches and sneezing to watery eyes, body aches, fatigue and a sore throat, the symptoms of coughs and colds can cause real distress. There is unfortunately no hard and fast cure to coughs and colds, but with 93% of Brits admitting that they have struggled to sleep while suffering from symptoms,[2] and only 22% of Brits saying that they would keep working when they are struck down, finding ways to manage symptoms is vital to stop coughs and colds being so disruptive.
Natural Solutions For Coughs And Colds
The Puressentiel research discovered that 45% of Brits manage their cough and cold symptoms with at home medicines, 41% said they used painkillers and 40% admit they just rest as much as they can.
But, natural health specialist and chemist and part of the Puressentiel expert hub – uk.puressentiel.com – Dr Tim Bond – recommends trying natural solutions borne out of nature as a means of easing symptoms and supporting the immune system.
Natural remedies include any product borne out of nature, including plants and also essential oils.
Dr Tim Bond explains: “Using plant-based ingredients, we can help tackle coughs and colds, allowing us to think more clearly and feel more alive. Let’s not allow these frustrating symptoms to dictate our lives and instead, work to lessen the impact they have on our day-to-day life.”
Speaking of the many essential oils shown to ease symptoms, Dr Tim Bond adds: “Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts; one of the functions of essential oils in the plant include antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties as part of the plant’s immune system.[3] As a result, any well studied essential oil product, like the Puressentiel cough cold range is going to be great news for our immune health, vital for winter wellness needs.”
Essential Oils To Ease Symptoms
The essential oil e.globulus, extracted from eucalyptus, helps to clear mucus from the airways and break up mucus in the lungs, allowing you to breathe easier, plus it has antiseptic properties. “It has been incorporated in many of the Puressentiel cough cold remedies as it promotes bronchodilation as well as Puessentiels Purifying Air Spray,”[4] says Dr Tim Bond.
Pine bud extract, also known as scots pine, has been found to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.[5] “Scots pine essential oil is often used to help against respiratory system ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, colds, sinusitis and sore throats,” says Dr Nisa Aslam. Dr Nisa Aslam adds, “as well as being a key ingredient carefully wrapped into many of the Puressentiel cough cold products, scots pine is also in Puressentiel Purifying Air Spray. This smart product is designed to be used indoors, and combines 41 essential oils — including two species of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and geranium (pelargonium) — to combat airborne bacteria and viruses, fungal spores, and house-dust mites. A trial in patients with a history of respiratory symptoms showed significant improvements in lung function after just four weeks of use.[6]
Used to help prevent viruses, bacteria, mould and improve indoor air quality
Helps support immunity
Ideal for those suffering allergies
Over 18 studies – clinically efficacious, safe and well tolerated
100% plant origin formula
Easy to use format
Propellent free, alcohol denat-free, aerosol free
Used and loved around the globe by shoppers
The Wonders OfErysimum, Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint Oil
Found in Puressentiel’s new Acti Pure Kids Syrup, erysimum, also known as ‘wallflower’ helps to soothe inflammatory throat pain[7] while lavender essential oil and linalool – a component of lavender-has been shown to increase relaxation and improve sleep while also improving mood.
“With so many Brits struggling to sleep when they have a cough or a cold, lavender could be the support so many people need,” says Dr Nisa Aslam, who adds: “Linalool has antibacterial and antifungal activity as well as antioxidant and analgesic activity with proven benefits in migraine headaches.”[8]
Another natural support is lemon essential oil, which has been used for thousands of years for various reasons including helping to ease sore throats, coughs, cold and influenza, while also helping to induce relaxation and sleepiness.[9] “Peppermint oil (as well as peppermint leaf) has been used internally to help clear catarrh of the respiratory tracts and helps with inflammation of the oral mucosa,[10]” says Dr Tim Bond.
Puressentiel: harnessing the power of plants
Puressentiel’s range of products offer a number of natural respiratory aids to help you to breathe easier when you’re suffering from a cough or cold. “Using the power of nature’s pharmacy and a variety of different essential oils, Puressentiel has developed clinically-proven formulas to relieve bothersome cough and cold symptoms,” says Dr Nisa Aslam.
For kids, Puressentiel Acti Pure Kids Syrupcontains a 100% natural formula made of 100% pure organic honey, natural plant extracts of elderberry and erysimum and vegan vitamin D3, sourced from lichen.
“This is ideal for soothing and softening children’s sore throats during winter. It helps unblock the nose and supports the body’s natural immunity at the first signs of a cold,”[11] says Dr Tim Bond. In fact, 100% of parents said their kids felt better after using Puressentiel’s Acti Pure Syrup and considered the product ideal to take from the first signs of a cold.[12]
Puressentiel’s Acti Pure Syrup:
100% natural with 100% organic honey, erysimum, elderberries and vegan vitamin D3 sourced from lichen
Helps soothe and reduce the duration of cold and flu-like symptoms when used at the first signs of a cold
Clears the nose and makes breathing easier, soothes sore throats and supports the body’s natural immunity
Delicious natural taste
Suitable for ages 3 and above
Puressentiel Respiratory Cough Syrup, available from Holland & Barrett contains three aromatic honeys – propolis, marshmallow and elderberry – to help soothe sore throats and supports the body’s natural defences. Dr Tim Bond adds: “This clears the upper respiratory tract by hydrating mucous membranes, reducing irritation and providing a lasting protection to reduce cough frequency.”
100% natural containing plants, essential oils, honey and propolis.
Contains the essential oils Peppermint, Eucalyptus radia, Rosemary cineole, Lemon.
Helps calm and reduce the frequency of coughs from the first day
Sweet honey taste
Reduces irritation and provides lasting protection for the mucous membrane.
Suitable for ages 7 and above .
To help relieve a blocked or runny noses, Dr Tim Bond recommends New Puressentiel Respiratory Decongestant Nasal Spray, available from Holland & Barrett. “This combines a 100% natural sterile saline solution to soften blocked nasal mucosa in the event of a cold and other nose congestion. Organic rosemary floral water plus the soothing and decongestant essential oils of eucalyptus radiata, rosat geranium, niaouli, ravintsara, as well as propolis help you to breathe more easily.” It’s also clinically proven to decongest from the first few minutes of use. New Puressentiel Respiratory Decongestant Nasal Spray is:
100% Natural and organic relief for Colds, rhinitis (chronic or allergic), sinusitis, rhinopharyngitis
A unique formula with a blend of: 4 Organic Essential Oils, Hypertonic Sea water, Organic Rosemary floral water, Propolis and Echinacea
Fast, effective, clinically proven relief1
Non-irritating and preservative-free
Suitable for people with high blood pressure – no corticosteroids or vasoconstrictors
“With a combination of plant extracts, seven essential oils and soothing ingredients, such as honey and lemon, this syrup forms a protective film, soothing the throat, pharynx and tired vocal cords, while supporting your natural defences.”
100% Natural, fast, effective relief
Cough relief: soothes irritated mucous membranes that line our throats and cause us to cough and provides lasting protection for the upper respiratory tract
Calms cough: reduces irritation and provides lasting protection for the tiny hairs, known as cilia – technical name: mucous membranes
A natural, effective, special formula with a blend of: 3 aromatic honeys (thyme, lemon tree and lavender), marshmallow extract, elderberry & propolis
Pleasant honey taste
Non-drowsy and free from: gluten, colouring and preservatives
A formulation with sustainable honey. For every purchase made, Puressentiel makes a donation to the global beekeeper’s network
Suitable from three years plus
For a stronger spray to help prevent ear, nose and throat issues and strengthen the nasal lining’s defence, try Puressentiel Respiratory Nasal Hygiene Strong Jet Spray, which deeply cleanses your nose and helps in the treatment of colds.
100% plant-based formula with plant extracts of organic calendula with soothing and protective properties
100% pure and natural seawater, rich in marine trace elements
An alcohol-free, no preservatives, propellant gas-free format
Protection against colds or ear infection
A 3-in-1 action: gently cleanses, hydrates and decongests with a user-friendly nozzle and multidirectional spray. Ideal for a sensitive and irritated nose
The elimination of impurities and reduces the viscosity of mucus
The restoration of natural moisture
A Medical Device Class IIa
Dr Tim Bond adds: “Plants and nature can really support us when we’re struggling with coughs and colds and Puressentiel truly harnesses nature’s power within its extensive range of products. Let’s help ease frustrating symptoms and recover quickly so we can stop these cough cold perils from dictating our lives!”
